TWO teenage Albanian refugees are warming to life in Sedgefield by training as welders and improving their English skills.

Alfie Lashi, 17, and Chris Noka, 16, have started pre-apprenticeship training programmes which have secured them jobs with a Newton Aycliffe firm.

The skills they have already picked up on the Entry to Employment programme, organised by Sedgefield Borough Council, and an English for Speakers of Other Languages course, at Bishop Auckland College, have helped them land jobs with MF Engineering.

The Learning and Skills Council is funding the work placements as part of the Get On North East initiative to increase numeracy, literacy and other skills.